Experiment 0: Basic Electronics Skills
First Author *, Second Author and Third Author
1, 2 3
1
Our Institute - College, Our University
2
Our Institute - College, Our University
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Abstract
The paper aims to evaluate the students skills in handling and assessing the multimeter and other equipments in
an electronics laboratory. Performing different activities using a multimeter, a oscillioscope and a function
generator, it is possible to avoid accidents due to mishandling of equipment. The students were able to properly
use the different functions of the multimeter and as well as to generate waveforms with specific voltage and
frequency.
Keywords: multimeter, oscillioscope, function generator, electronics
I. Introduction
Improper handling of lab equipment could lead to accidents that can range from damaging the
equipment to harming the students or anyone else in the lab. Said equipments are also expensive and the
students who are assigned to them are barred from clearance until there has been compensation.
To avoid such things, the students must be familiar with basic lab equipments. Learning the proper usage will
also be useful in their profession as it is a necessary skill when it comes to research.
Using the equipment firsthand offers a better retention compared to listening on how to use the equipment in a
lecture. Under the supervision of an instructor, the students will easily learn the necessary skills.
The activities involved using a multimeter, an oscilloscope and a function generator. The multimeter has
different functions which includes an Ohmmeter, a continuity tester, a Voltmeter and a Milliammeter. While the
oscilloscope is used to display the waveforms of an electric signal, and the function generator produces different
kinds of electric waveforms.
II. Methodology
In testing the Ohmmeter function of the multimeter, the multimeters dial was set to the Ohmmeter and
the probes were placed into their proper place; with the black jack into the black socket and the red jack into the
red socket with the ohm symbol. To measure the resistance of a resistor with a color band of green-black-
orange-gold which has a resistance of 50k 5%, the alligator clips were attached to each of the probes of the
multimeter and the other ends of the alligator clips were attached to the leads of the resistor.
Table 1. Resistor color codes
Color Digit Multiplier Tolerance (%)
Black 0 100
Brown 1 101 1
Red 2 102 2
Orange 3 103
Yellow 4 104
Green 5 105 0.5
Blue 6 106 0.25
Violet 7 107 0.1
Grey 8 108
White 9 109
Gold 10-1 5
Silver 10-2 10
(None) 20
To calculate the relative deviation of the resistance, The expression can be used where d is relative deviation
d=R t , (1)
where R is the resistance of the resistor and t is the tolerance of the resistor. The acceptable rating for the resistor
should be in the range between the R minus d and R plus d. If the reading measured by the Ohmmter is not
within the acceptable range, then the resistor is defective.
Figure 1. The ohmmeter connect to the load
Using the same setup as before, the resistance of a capacitance can be measured. However, it must be first
discharged by conncting both leads of a resistor to the terminals of the capacitor. The capacitor used has a
capacitance of 22 F. After being discharged, connect the positive terminal of the capacitor to the red probe of
the multimeter and the negative terminal to the black probe of the multimeter.
Before testing the continuity of the wire, the resistance of the wire must be measured. Connect each end of the
wire to one of the probes of the multimeter.
To do a continuity test, turn the dial of the multimeter to Continuity Test mode. Connect the oscilloscope probe
to one of the multimter probe and the other multimeter probe to the ground of the oscilloscope which is the
cylindrical metal surrounding the center pin. Using the same setup but connecting the multimter probe with the
signal line which is the center pin.
Doing the same procedure as before but with the addition of alligator clips attached to the multimeter probes and
the ground or signal line depending on which would be tested on the BNC Cable.
Measuring the voltage of the load requires the multimeter to be set in the correct dial. Switch the dial to DC
Voltage since the circuit with a resistor is connected to a DC power supply. The Voltmeter function of the
multimeter must be connected parallel to the circuit. After the power supply has been switched on, the probes of
the voltmeter were connected to the leads of the resistor.
Figure 2. The voltmeter connect to the circuit in parallel.
To test the function generator, the multimter has to be set to AC Voltage. Switch on the function generator and
set it to the following settings; sine wave output, 100 Hz frequency and maximum amplitude. Connect the
probes of the function generator to the circuit and connect the voltmeter probes to the leads of the resistor to
measure the root-mean-square voltage.
Using the same setup as before, but the setting has to be changed from a sine wave output to a triangle or square
wave output. The voltmeter can measure the root-mean-square voltage depending on the wave output.
To measure the current of a circuit, the multimeters dial has to be set in the Ammeter function and the red jack
has to be put into the correct socket with the Ampere symbol. Using a DC power supply connected to a circuit
with a resistor, the current can be measured when the Mlliammeter is connected in series to the circuit.
Figure 3. The ammeter connect to the circuit in series.
To generate a waveform in the oscilloscope, connect the function generators 50 ohm output using a BNC cable
to one of the oscilloscopes channels. For a square wave, the function generator should have the following
setting; 5.0 V and 500 Hz. The oscilloscope generates the waveform that can be imported as a CSV file. Using a
different setting for a sine wave, the setting has to be 2.0 V and 10 kHz. The waveform can also be imported as
well.
III. Results
In measuring the resistor that has a green-black-orange-gold color band which reads 50k 5%, the reading
measured is 48.75k . The acceptable range can be acquired by computing the relative deviation of the resistor.
Using Equation (1),
2500 =50,000 5 , (2)
The lower range can be computer by,
47500 =50,000 2500 , (3)
And the upper range is given by,
52500 =50,000 +2500 , (4)
The acceptable range of the resistor is between 47.5k to 52.5k . The resistance value measured was close to
the actual rating of the resistor.. The capacitor has a capacitance of 22 F. The resistance reading of the capacitor
kept rising since the capacitor acts like an open circuit.
In the continuity test, the wire that was measured has a resistance reading that was changing between 0.3 to
0.4 . While a broken wire had a constant rising resistance reading. For the oscilloscope probe, theres a beep
when it was connected to ground then theres continuity. However, theres no sound when it was connected to
the signal linea which means that there is no continuity. Similar to the oscilloscope probe, the same results were
produced where a beep was produced from the continuity test of the ground and no sound was produced when it
was connected to the signal line. Which means that the BNC cable is working.
For a DC power supply, the following readings were measured.
Table 2. DC Power Suply Measurements
DC Power Supply Voltmeter Reading
0.1 V 0.099 V
0.5 V 0.547 V
1V 0.996 V
The resistor that was used in the circuit has a much lower resistance which resulted to the Voltmeter readings
being close to the DC Power Supply values.
For the function generator, the following root-mean-square (RMS) were measured,
Table 3. Root-Mean-Square Measurements
Wave Output Measured RMS Expected RMS
Sine wave 7.77 V 0.707 V
Square wave 6.35 V 0.577 V
Triangle wave 10.71 V Peak
While performing the task for the Milliammeter, the milliammeter wasnt able to pick up any readings. Either
the resistors that were used had very high resistance or the milliammeter was defective.
The data for the square wave for a function generator with the settings of 5.0 V and 500 Hz.
Square Wave Input
X Second CH1 Volt
Figure 4. Graph of the Square wave with 5.0 V and 500 Hz
The data for the sine wave for a function generator with the settings of 2.0 V and 10k Hz,
Sine Wave Input
X Second CH1 Volt
Figure 5. Graph of the Sine wave with 2.0 V and 10k Hz
IV. Answers to Questions
1. What does the last band tell you? The last band informs us of the tolerance of the resistor
2. How do you know if the resistor is working or defective? If the resistance measure is within the acceptable
range of relative deviation.
3. Does the resistance reading of the capacitor change? Yes, it is constantly rising.
4. Is this expected? Why or why not? Yes, because the capacitor acts like an open circuit which has an infinite
resistance.
5. How do you determine if the capacitor is working or not? If the resistance reading of the capacitor stays at
zero.
6. What is the resistance of the wire? It changes between 0.3 to 0.4
7. What is the resistance of a broken wire? It will keep rising to infinity.
8. Which part of the probe should be used to read the signal?
9. Which part should be connected to ground?
10. Why is there a need to connect the voltmeter in parallel to the circuit? A voltmeter has very high resistance
and placing it in parallel to the load will create a potential difference that can be measured.
11. What is the resistance of an ideal voltmeter? It should be infinite ohms.
12. How do you know if the DC power supply is working? If the voltage reading is close or the same as the
voltage of the power supply.
13. Can you use a voltmeter to check for continuity? No, because the a voltmeter has a very resistance which
impedes the flow of current.
14. Why is there a need to connect the milliammeter in series? A milliammeter has very low resistance which
causes electrons to pass through it which makes reading the current possible.
15. What is the resistance of an ideal milliammeter? Zero ohms.
16. Why is the load needed before you measure the current?
V. Conclusions
